Sir Thomas Wolryche, 1st Baronet of Dudmaston

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Thomas_Wolryche,_1st_Baronet

Sir Thomas Wolryche, 1st Baronet (1598 - 1668) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1625. He fought in the Royalist army in the English Civil War.

Wolryche was born at Worfield, the son of Francis Wolryche of Dudaston, Shropshire and his wife Margaret Bromley, daughter of George Bromley of Hatton. He succeeded his father in 1614. He matriculated from Trinity College, Cambridge at Easter 1614 and was admitted at Inner Temple on 11 October 1615. In 1621, he was elected Member of Parliament for Wenlock. He was re-elected MP for Wenlock in 1624 and 1625.

Wolryche was knighted at Whitehall on 22 July 1641 and created a baronet on 4 August 1641. He was a zealous supporter of the King in the Civil War, and became a colonel in the Royalist army. He was governor of Bridgnorth Castle and when Parliamentary forces arrived at Bridgnorth in 1646, his garrison set fire to the town, which was largely destroyed, before retreating into the castle, only to surrender shortly afterwards. He was imprisoned once and sequestered twice. On 11 March 1647 he was fined £730.

Wolryche died aged 70 and though said to be buried at St Chad's Shrewsbury on 9 July 1668 has a memorial stone on his tomb at Quatt.

Wolryche married Ursula Otley, daughter of Thomas Otley of Pichford Shropshire. He had sons Francis, who succeeded to the baronetcy but was insane, and John, who was also MP for Wenlock.

Biographical Summary

Thomas Wolryche, of Dudmaston, go. Salop, Knt., s. and h. of Francis Wolryche, of the same, by Margaret, da. of George Bromley, of Hatton, in the said county, was b. at Worfield in 1598 ; suc. his father in 1614 ; ed. at Cambridge Univ. ; admitted to Inner Temple, 11 Oct. 1615 ; M.P. for Wenlock, 1621-22, 1624-25 and 1625 ; was Col. in the Royal Army, during the Civil Wars ; a zealous supporter of the King by whom he was made Governor of Bridgnorth ; was Knighted at Whitehall, 22 July 1641, and cr. a Baronet, as above, 4 Aug. 1641. He was twice sequestered, once imprisoned and was, 11 March 1647, fined £730. He m., in or before 1628, Ursula, da. of Thomas Otley, of Pichford, Salop, by Mary, da. of Roger Gifford, M.D., Physician to Queen Elizabeth. He d. 4 and was bur. 9 July 1668 at St. Chad's, Shrewsbury, in his 71st year. M.I. at Quatt, co. Salop. Will dat. 21 Dec. 1662 to 2 Feb. 1662/3, pr. 7 Nov. 1668, by Ursula, his widow.

SOURCE: Complete baronetage; Cokayne, George E. (George Edward); 1902; Vol. II; page 124